New faces will be appearing in worship!
As you may have noticed, we’ve had a strong crew of people leading worship over the last 4 months. They’ve included pastors, staff, and their families leading music and worship together. As we move forward with this new time of worshiping together at a distance, we are beginning to incorporate new faces into worship by using 4 different worship teams. These teams will take turns leading music and worship each Sunday from August until the beginning of Advent so we can share leadership responsibilities and see more faces from within our church community. Below is a description of each team and the gifts and callings they will bring as they lead worship during the next few months. If you have interest in organizing, leading, or participating in a worship team during or after Advent please let Renee Reimer, Nathan Koontz, or Barbara Thiesen know!
Choral Worship Team
William Eash, Esther Kreider Eash, Verlene Garber, Ron Garber, John Mark Koontz, Renee Reimer, and Barbara Thiesen
This worship team has been leading online worship for the past 4 months and has created quite the rhythm when making music together. The musical gifts that this group brings will be rich harmony and choral pieces as well as the familiar sounds of the BCMC organ.
Youth Worship Team
Jonah Scholenger (Newton High School senior), Simon Koontz (Newton High School sophomore), John Mark Koontz (Newton High School senior), Marlene Ewert, and Cliff Dick
Jonah, Simon, and John Mark have been creating and exploring music as they’ve grown up together in North Newton. These 3 have held down the rhythm section at Newton High School and participated in several community and statewide ensembles. The musical gifts that this ensemble will bring will be filled with strong instrumental hymn variations. Cliff Dick and Marlene Ewert will begin as 2020-2021 youth sponsors and have also agreed to be worship leaders with this new worship team.
Agape Sunday School Class Worship Team
Various members of Agape Sunday School Class
Many musicians and leaders fill the seats of the Agape Sunday School Class! With this worship team the gifts we will experience will include strong string instruments and choral hymn singing. You may even see faces of youth and children as they participate alongside their parents occasionally too!
Young(er) Adult Worship Team
Bethany Schrag, Tim Schrag, Ben Lichti, Renee Reimer, Suzy Burch, Dave Linscheid, and Cynthia Linscheid
This crew of folks have all enjoyed making music for much of their lives. The musical gifts this group will bring will include exquisite four-part a cappella singing, guitar, and keyboard music.
The family of Dorothy Harder invites you to “shower” her with cards in honor of her 90th birthday on August 22, 2020. Send cards to Dorothy Harder, 3012 Ivy Drive, N. Newton, KS 67117. Thank you!
Issaka (Carlos) Dabonne, who David and Heidi Regier Kreider were hosting in the MCC International Volunteer Exchange Program (IVEP) returned last week to Burkina Faso, after completing his term of volunteer work at the MCC Central States Center. Before leaving the MCC Welcoming Place in Akron, PA, Issaka sent this message:
“Assembly of BCMC, dear faithful, I thank God who gave me this opportunity being a part of your assembly. Thanks to all of you for hosting me. May God still bless BCMC”. – Issaka Dabonne, IVEPer from Burkina Faso.
Support MCC and celebrate MCC’s centennial with a new shirt, hoodie, tea towel, bag or hat! Check out this online store set up by the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale to place your order today (pssst, it’s never too early to start Christmas shopping!). Visit wearatomic.com/product-category/mcc/ and start shopping to support MCC!
Mennonite Mission Network Prayer Request: Delicia Bravo and Peter Wigginton, serving with Mennonite Mission Network, request prayer for Ecuador where COVID-19 cases continue to rise and the economic situation worsens. Pray for Quito Mennonite Church as the congregation inaugurates a seed grant initiative this month to help people get back on their feet.
Western District Conference Prayer Request: Pray for children and youth in WDC congregations, and for their families, teachers and mentors, as preparations for a new school year unfold in the face of challenging circumstances.
Offering at BCMC for August 2-9, 2020: General Fund $2,032; Living Stones $5; Elevator Repair $1,400.
Porch Project
Thanks to those of you who have participated in the Porch Project. Keep your photos coming! You can send them to Pastor Renee at renee@bethelcollegemennonitechurch.org. Follow this link to see the faces of 60+ BCMCers: https://cruxphotos.smugmug.com/BCMC-Porch/
PLEASE NOTE: these photos are meant to be enjoyed by our church community. Please do not share them (via social media, etc) unless you have received permission of the people in the photo.
Bethel College Student Donations
The Bethel College Relations Team is seeking nonperishable items to give to Bethel College students during their first week of class. We are looking for items such as: ramen noodles, microwavable meals (like mac and cheese), popcorn, etc. We would also welcome masks and travel size hand sanitizer to hand out to students who may need some. Please bring your donations to church and leave them by the white table outside of the church office. Contact Pastor Renee if you have questions.
Other Announcements
Everence will host a Social Security and retirement income planning webinar, on Tuesday, August 11 at 6:30 p.m. Attendees will learn about Social Security strategies, risks that can impact retirement savings and strategies to help income last throughout retirement. The workshop is free. Register soon by contacting our office at 316-283-3800, 877-467-7294 or central.kansas@everence.com.
Hesston Mennonite Church, Hesston, KS seeks a part-time Office Manager. The Office Manager provides administrative duties that promote teamwork and efficiency in support of the pastoral staff, church governing body, its commissions and other church ministries. This position serves as the church receptionist and coordinates the overall functions of the church office to include bulletin and newsletter creation, coordination of volunteers within the office and for special events, and keeping the in-house data management system up to date with congregational changes. This position has some financial responsibilities to include accounts payable. Ideal candidates will have a high school diploma or some college, and two years working in a similar administrative position. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are important. Candidates should be familiar with Microsoft Office and be willing to work in other computer programs as needed. Soft skills include a friendly, calm approach to church visitors and the pastoral staff, ability to organize and create efficient processes for the church office, and attention to detail. Must be capable of maintaining strict confidentiality in regard to office matters. Please send cover letter and resume to personnel@hesstonmc.org.
Western District Conference announcements:
Thanks to all who attended WDC’s 2020 online assembly last weekend! At Saturday morning’s business session, delegates heard the conference minister’s state-of-the-conference reflections and a financial update, approved the budget for 2021 and elected leaders for the coming year. Comments and questions addressed topics such as WDC’s application for a CARES Act Payroll Protection Program loan, equipping existing congregations in conjunction with church planting initiatives, and affirmation for Camp Mennoscah’s ongoing mission in these challenging times. The session concluded with a resolution of thanks for all involved in making Assembly possible, and recognition of outgoing moderator Ray Reimer and transition to new moderator Lois Barrett. Saturday afternoon, participants attended webinars on: Missional in the Age of Covid; Growing in Faith Wherever You Are: Boxes, Bundles, or Books Which is Right for You?; Real Live Faith; and Voices Together. And on Sunday, many WDC congregations and members joined in watching the Assembly worship service. If you were not able to attend Assembly events, you may go to “WDC Assembly 2020” on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6aO7e884ZT5d9gHzyrfAucccOFYYd_M5 and watch the videos.
WDC Questionnaire is for ALL: Everyone is encouraged to fill out a WDC Questionnaire – those who participated in the Annual Assembly and those who didn’t – we’d like to hear from everyone. There are some questions about the role and ministries of WDC that we hope you will answer. Find the link here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScnlSX5ibg9z87BQOQBm-MkddjpjrurDdIz61SW5JWtCIKVZw/viewform.
Racial Justice from the US to Palestine: The WDC Israel-Palestine Task Force invites you to a virtual conversation on racial justice. Palestinians Alex Awad and Jonathan Kuttab join US citizen Sarah Nahar. They’ll share their own experiences of injustice and hope and discuss the similarities in both contexts. Join us for this free live event on WDC’s Facebook page on September 21, 7 pm Central Time. You’re welcome to donate to WDC at: mennowdc.org.
Camp Mennoscah announcements
Men and Boys Retreat has been canceled for 2020. Men and boys (with adult supervision) and families are invited to contact Camp Mennoscah at 620-297-3290 about overnight stays or day visits.
Learning opportunities from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary:
Deepen your understanding of Anabaptism through six-week, online short courses from AMBS! Explore Anabaptist history, theology, current practice, commitment to peacemaking, approaches to scripture, and how to transform congregational conflict and communication. These non-credit courses feature optional weekly Zoom conversations with professors along with readings and written discussion forums. No papers and no grades! Sign up for individual courses or for the “short course bundle” at ambs.edu/shortcourses.
Prepare to lead worship and singing drawing on the vast resources of the Voices Together hymnal through two new AMBS online short courses–one for worship planners and leaders and one for song leaders. Both courses will feature guest instructors Katie Graber and Anneli Loepp Thiessen. Sign up at ambs.edu/shortcourses.
Service Adventure has open spots for the 2020-2021 term beginning this fall. If you are interested in taking a gap year to serve, live in community, and grow spiritually, contact SusanN@MennoniteMission.net or apply online at MennoniteMission.net/ServiceAdventure.
The 2020 issue of Mennonite Life, Bethel College’s online journal, is live at ml.bethelks.edu, with articles and reviews by Alain Epp Weaver, Ben Nobbs-Thiessen, Ben Woodward-Breckbill, Cheryl Denise, Christopher Reed, Emma Beachy, Jason Schmidt, Joanne Lehman, Joyce Zuercher, Julia Kasdorf, Keith Sprunger, Lisa Schirch, Marc Gopin, Melanie Zuercher and Raylene Hinz-Penner.
Urgent Prayer Request
Erwin Mirabal, Venezuela, and José Manuel Guamán, Ecuador
Thank you for praying for Erwin Mirabal, president of the Mennonite Church in Venezuela and pastor of the Caracas congregation, when we sent the urgent prayer request two weeks ago. With medication and oxygen, Pastor Mirabal remained in stable condition. However, he died unexpectedly Aug. 5. Mennonite Mission Network, along with his family, the churches in Venezuela, and the Venezuelan Partnership (Colombia Mennonite Church, Central Plains Conference, and Mennonite Mission Network) feel this loss deeply. Pastor Mirabal led many people to a new life in Christ and worked creatively and tirelessly to help the most vulnerable people in the Venezuelan context. Please join us in praying for his family and all those whom his ministry touched. May they have a deep sense of God’s presence in this time of loss and sorrow.
We also ask you to pray for José Manuel Guamán, president of Iglesia Cristiana Menonita de Ecuador, the predominantly indigenous Mennonite conference in Ecuador. Guamán also contracted COVID-19 and his family asks us to join them in praying for a full recovery for him.